DA VINCI — LIFE & ART
Why did da Vinci often leave his paintings unfinished, according to the text?
He was busy with other things.
Name ONE invention that da Vinci sketched in his notebooks that was centuries ahead of his time.
Any one of: helicopter, flying machine, calculator, parachute, robot
In which city was Christopher Columbus born?
Genoa, Italy
Make the verb "paint" negative in the past simple: "I ___ a picture."
I didn't paint a picture.
What word means "someone who designs machines and bridges"?
Engineer
Name the TWO most famous paintings by da Vinci that are mentioned in the text.
The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper
What major engineering project did da Vinci design for the city of Florence?
A brilliant canal system
Which two Spanish monarchs agreed to fund Columbus's voyage?
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
Form a past simple question from these prompts: "Leonardo da Vinci / sketch / plants and animals?"
Did Leonardo da Vinci sketch plants and animals?
Da Vinci was described as "curious." What does "curious" mean? Use it in a sentence.
Wanting to know more / eager to learn
In which Italian region was Leonardo da Vinci born in 1452?
Tuscany
For which THREE purposes did da Vinci design machines, as mentioned in the text?
War, industry, and transport
Columbus set sail in August 1492 with three ships. Name all three.
The Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María
Write the past simple of these three verbs: FLY, FORBID, and TRY.
Flew, forbade, tried
Which word means "very exact/correct" — accurate or detailed? And which means "thorough, with many small points"?
Accurate = exact/correct; Detailed = thorough with many small points
Da Vinci used "mirror writing" in his notes. What was the probable reason for this, according to the text?
He didn't want everyone to understand his notes.
What is the "Vitruvian Man" and why is it significant according to the text?
A sketch showing the perfect proportions of the human body — possibly the best-known drawing in the world.
Columbus mistakenly called the people he met in the Bahamas "Indians." Why did he make this mistake?
He thought he was in India.
Find and correct the mistake: "Did Claude Monet painted Starry Night?" Then give a short answer.
Did Claude Monet paint Starry Night? No, he didn't. (He painted Water Lilies.)
The text says da Vinci's inventions were "ahead of their time." What does this phrase mean? Give an example.
Too advanced or modern for the period in which they existed
How many of da Vinci's finished paintings survive today, and why is this number so small?
Only about 15 survive — he was busy with other things and often didn't finish them.
In 2001, architects constructed something based on da Vinci's design. What was it and where?
A bridge in Norway
John Cabot set sail from which English city in May 1497, and what did he name the land he found?
Bristol — he called it "new found land" (now Newfoundland, Canada)
Name THREE time expressions that are used with the past simple.
Any three: yesterday / last week / last year / a month ago / three days ago / in 1492, etc.
Give the vocabulary word for: (1) someone who thinks seriously about things, (2) someone who creates statues, and (3) someone who does research in science.
(1) Philosopher (2) Sculptor (3) Scientist